Let justice roll down like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream, as we together remember the reason for this season!
Have a joyous social change focussed festive, a justice - caring for and about the marginalised filled Christmas, and a New Year concerned for all who are laden with heavy burdens and oppressed by flawed and unjust systems.
Remember the reason for the season!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
its RECONCILIATION day - and don't forget it
Today is our national day of reconciliation. A day that is dedicated for our country to behold the beauty of our transition from an oppressive apartheid regime to the glorious landing of democracy.
People should rejoice and really blow the vuvuselas on this day. There should be a national celebration on this day. We should commemorate it with passionate and creative concepts that could turn into national events all across South Africa.
We should have people meeting in public spaces around braais,bryani and boerewors rolls. There should be community parties where neighbours and community residents take time to celebrate at their community park or at the local swimming pool.
It would be amazing to have a movie launch on this day, with young people flocking to their local cinemas to get a piece of the action. The movie could be premised with a motivational speaker inspiring our youth about reconciliation ideals. All across the nation reconciliation engagement through the mediums of movies, wow it would be powerful.
I could imagine religious leaders all across the land, holding special services for people to come together to pray, make petition, and chorus in praise for this blessed day of reconciliation.
But the reality is that all the verbage just penned above, are just words of wishful dreaming and imagination. It could become reality, but the foundation of our democracy would have to be refined. The state of the nation is not at place to celebrate this day, because there are many who have grown sceptic and hopeless. People feel the doom and gloom of a democracy that has left millions of our people to the depressing reality of political freedom without economic enfranchisement.
May we, those who believe in reconciliation rise with righteous anger, and with faith, hope and love, propel this wonderful value, ethic and inspired "highest agenda" of God- Reconciliation. The hope for our beloved South Africa lies in the everyday actions of those of us who have the means to throw a pebble into a pond, and watch it spiral into a movement for reconciliation action and reconciliation ideals. May our means bring aid to a reconciliation end.
May reconciliation reign from Cape town to Soweto, from the mountain tops to valleys so low. May reconciliation reign from suburbs to townships, may it reign from parliament to pretoria, may it reign from rolling hills of Kwazulu-Natal to the peaks of the Drakensberg. Let reconciliation fill our land and establish for our people a present reality of tangible change that will secure a future where South Africa truly belongs to us all.
Let reconciliation reign in our helping of the poor, let it reign in our work place and unions, let it reign for the domestic and casual labourers, and in the board rooms of the corporate gurus and their boards.
Let RECONCILIATION reign in your heart and mine.
A blessed and consciousness rising RECONCILIATION day to us all!!
Seth Naicker!
People should rejoice and really blow the vuvuselas on this day. There should be a national celebration on this day. We should commemorate it with passionate and creative concepts that could turn into national events all across South Africa.
We should have people meeting in public spaces around braais,bryani and boerewors rolls. There should be community parties where neighbours and community residents take time to celebrate at their community park or at the local swimming pool.
It would be amazing to have a movie launch on this day, with young people flocking to their local cinemas to get a piece of the action. The movie could be premised with a motivational speaker inspiring our youth about reconciliation ideals. All across the nation reconciliation engagement through the mediums of movies, wow it would be powerful.
I could imagine religious leaders all across the land, holding special services for people to come together to pray, make petition, and chorus in praise for this blessed day of reconciliation.
But the reality is that all the verbage just penned above, are just words of wishful dreaming and imagination. It could become reality, but the foundation of our democracy would have to be refined. The state of the nation is not at place to celebrate this day, because there are many who have grown sceptic and hopeless. People feel the doom and gloom of a democracy that has left millions of our people to the depressing reality of political freedom without economic enfranchisement.
May we, those who believe in reconciliation rise with righteous anger, and with faith, hope and love, propel this wonderful value, ethic and inspired "highest agenda" of God- Reconciliation. The hope for our beloved South Africa lies in the everyday actions of those of us who have the means to throw a pebble into a pond, and watch it spiral into a movement for reconciliation action and reconciliation ideals. May our means bring aid to a reconciliation end.
May reconciliation reign from Cape town to Soweto, from the mountain tops to valleys so low. May reconciliation reign from suburbs to townships, may it reign from parliament to pretoria, may it reign from rolling hills of Kwazulu-Natal to the peaks of the Drakensberg. Let reconciliation fill our land and establish for our people a present reality of tangible change that will secure a future where South Africa truly belongs to us all.
Let reconciliation reign in our helping of the poor, let it reign in our work place and unions, let it reign for the domestic and casual labourers, and in the board rooms of the corporate gurus and their boards.
Let RECONCILIATION reign in your heart and mine.
A blessed and consciousness rising RECONCILIATION day to us all!!
Seth Naicker!
Monday, December 13, 2010
As people we gathered to explore our humanity!
There was a moment in all of the activities I knew that God was present. It was a moment of realization and awe as young people and youth leaders of diverse race/ethnicity, gender, class, religion and language sang our South African national anthem. From in and around Johannesburg we came together to engage, accomplish and realize our inaugural dialogue on non-racialism.
Saturday, the 11th of December, 2010 marked 21 years since Yusuf Akhalwaya and Prakash Napier passed on as a result of a bomb blast at park station, they were part of the Lenasia Youth League. Their lives were abruptly taken in the struggle against apartheid.
Our non-racialism dialogue was riddled with this symbolic day lurking in the background. It was only in our closing statements that we reminded the youth of Yusuf and Prakash. Shaheda Seedat office manager of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation told of the symbolism of the day, as one who knew these young men personally.
The activities of the day started at 8:30 am with registration. It was clear that as participants arrived they were expectant and wanted to engage in this matter of non-racialism. Ahmed Kathrada arrived on time and made his way toward our humble place and space that was secured for the dialogue. Olefile Masangane one of our lead facilitators displayed his awe as he looked upon uncle Kathy.
It is amazing to be in the presence of people who have anchored their lives in the ideals of humanity, equality and justice. You may not find words to describe, but for the sake of description I believe that for most it was a moment to behold. Participants sensed the depth of a man who has committed to a value, ethic, sincere and stubborn determination of non-racialism.
It is with great honour and a feeling of soulful and healthy pride, that I serve the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. It is my hope that we will establish non-racialism ambassadors throughout the country, the continent and the world. Such a hope is not just wishful thinking, it can be realized as we press on with faith, hope and love!
As people we gathered to explore our humanity!
SethNaicker
Managing Partner
indiAfrique training & development
Director
Office of ReconciliationDiversity & International Affairs
A collaboration of indiAfrique & Young & Able
mobile: 079 482 7445|work: 011 341 0190|e-mail: seth@indiAfrique.co.za|indiAfrique@youngable.com
http://revsethnaicker.blogspot.com/
Suite 160|Dunkeld West Centre 281 Jan Smuts Ave|Dunkeld Johannesburg|Gauteng|South Africa
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